Wednesday, April 10, 2013

GPS Share App Background and Concept

This is the first post of many related to the development of our first app, GPS Share.
The purpose of our app is that it will
access the device’s GPS functionality in order to retrieve the
user’s location. The first feature of the app will allow the user
to instantly share their GPS coordinates with a friend via text
message, facebook, twitter, or other people with the same app. This
is useful because if people are trying to visit each other in the
city or somewhere else, they can easily find each other by sending
their GPS coordinates to each other and then putting that into their
phone’s Apple Maps navigation software. This makes it easier to
find each other because they don’t have to call or text message
each other and have to describe what their current location’s
scenery looks like or try to figure out what street they’re on.
Eventually real-time tracking can be added to the app so that users
can track each other in real time. Additional features of the app
include an ability for parents to track their kids’ smartphones
with the ability for a password lock so kids can’t just simply
disable the app. This would require the app to be able to run in the
background. Multi-tasking will need to be explored and researched in
order to make this possible. Apparently multi-tasking on iOS is not
as readily available as Android or Windows Phone due to limitations
set by Apple which Google and Microsoft do not impose. Another
planned feature of the app is an open real-time share feature. This
feature will act as a local real-time social network. Users can
choose to opt in to this feature and allow their gps location to be
broadcast publicly. Other people with the same app and an account can
see a map with other people in the area who are broadcasting
publicly. This will allow people to meet other new people. The
purpose of this can range from simply meeting new friends to dating.
This open network feature can also be used to broadcast messages or
pictures to people nearby. This can be useful because if someone is
visiting a town or city and they’re looking for a good tourist
attraction or restaurant, they can broadcast a message to local
people asking for suggestions. Local residents with the app who see
the broadcast can broadcast replies or pictures of what the visitors
might be looking for. This app can be extended anytime to include
even more features that take advantage of the phone’s GPS. If time
permits, a quick Android or Windows Phone port can be made to allow
for cross-platform compatibility and an increased user base.